REGION: Nationwide ICE sweep picks up 88 convicted criminals in SD County (North County Times)

REGION: Nationwide ICE sweep picks up 88 convicted criminals in SD County

By TERI FIGUEROA | Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:42 am

A week-long sweep targeting illegal immigrants who are convicted criminals netted more than 2,400 arrests nationwide ---- including 88 in San Diego County, federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities announced Tuesday.

Some 22 percent of those arrested in the sweep were convicted criminals who had ignored deportation orders, ICE announced. Prior convictions for some of those arrested through the sweep included armed robbery, drug trafficking, child abuse, assault, forgery and drunken driving, ICE officials said.

The sweep, which came during May, was part of a program ICE has dubbed Cross Check, and was the largest thus far of its kind. Cross Check first had operations in December 2009.

Since then, there have been Cross Check operations in 37 states, including regional operations in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest regions.